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Sewing a loop scarf: Instructions for many infinity scarf variations

29.08.2021 by Sabine Schmidt

Loop nähen: Anleitung für viele Schlauchschal-Varianten

Sewing a loop scarf: the perfect project for beginners. In this tutorial, I will show you how to sew loop scarves for babies, children, and adults. Bonus: Sewing a patchwork loop scarf from fabric scraps!

The most important things at a glance

  • Loop scarves are quick to sew and super practical
  • They are simply looped twice around the neck, keeping you nice and warm
  • You can sew loop scarves from any fabric that feels comfortable against the skin, including both woven and knit fabrics
  • In this post, you will find out what measurements loop scarves should have for babies, children, and adults
  • In the tutorial, I will show you how to sew a woven loop scarf, a jersey infinity scarf, a neck warmer for children, and a patchwork loop scarf from fabric scraps
  • You will also learn the traditional (though modified by me) Korean Bojagi technique, which allows even beginners to create perfect seams
  • Sewing time: approx. 20 – 30 minutes

Sewing a loop scarf is a great idea – especially for beginners. All you need is a piece of your favorite fabric and you're ready to go!

If you are a beginner and have never sewn a loop scarf before, you might have a few questions to clear up first, right? Which fabrics should be used? And which stitch should be used for which fabric? Do I need to wash the fabric before sewing? How large should the fabric cuts be? Don't worry, in this post we will clarify all questions regarding sewing loop scarves so that you can start your sewing project full of energy.

But first, the most important thing: Loop scarves are wonderful additions to your wardrobe. Soft and cozy or cool and stylish: the choice of fabric determines how and when you wear your loop scarf. Loop scarves go great with pinafore dresses, sweatshirts, warm jackets - actually, with any garment that leaves the neck area free.

Since I love to mix and match, I find loop scarves in a few basic colors that look good on me, such as anthracite, gray, black, or teal, indispensable. These colors are also reflected in my wardrobe. If you don't want to run out and buy fabric for your infinity scarf (as loop scarves are sometimes called) right away, you can also sew one from fabric scraps. A patchwork loop? Sounds a bit unusual at first. But it looks incredibly good and is quick to sew! How does it work? I'll show you further down in this post.

Reading tip: Would you like to sew a scarf from quilted fabric scraps?

Sewing a loop scarf

If you are still unsure about working with woven fabrics, feel free to check out my info post on sewing cotton fabric. In it, you'll learn everything you need to know to work with materials that aren't naturally elastic. The cotton fabric here is just representative of many other materials that behave similarly, such as canvas, linen, rayon, or denim.

Or maybe you've never worked with stretchy fabrics? That's how it was for me in the beginning: I found cotton fabrics easy, but I was a bit intimidated by jersey & co. Feel free to check out the posts sewing jersey without waves and sewing stretchy fabrics. Then you can get started with your jersey projects! ;)

 

Can beginners sew a loop scarf?

Loop scarves are the perfect beginner project. Why is that? You only need straight cutting edges and only sew straight seams. No decorative stitches, no curves, nothing complicated. That's good news, right? You can even sew the loop from soft jerseys or thick knit fabrics – even as a beginner!

Sewing a loop scarf

 

 

What do I absolutely need to know before I start?

Loop scarves are the fastest sewing projects ever: most of them only require three seams. Therefore, the sewing time is truly manageable. Even beginners can sew a loop scarf in approx. 20 - 30 minutes.

The most important thing: cut your fabric nice and straight. This is a challenge, especially with large pieces of fabric – and a loop scarf consists of one or more fabric cuts. But you can make it very easy for yourself by simply folding the fabric in half along the grainline and ironing it.

The ironed edge is also called the fold. Place the fabric on your cutting mat so that the fold is nice and straight. If your fabric is very wide (or your ruler is short), you can also double-fold the fabric. That's how I like to do it.

If you do it this way, make sure the layers of fabric are lying nice and straight. It's best to cut the fabric using a ruler and rotary cutter. If you have never worked with a rotary cutter, my blog post Everything about rotary cutters will surely help you.

 

Sewing a loop scarf

What accessories do I need to sew a loop scarf?

 

Which fabric is suitable?

Here you have the full choice: you can sew all three loop variants using both elastic and non-elastic fabrics.

These fabrics are particularly well-suited for sewing loop scarves:

  • Viscose fabrics* (elastic and non-elastic): for light, flowing scarves and loop scarves
  • Chambray fabrics*: a beautifully heathered woven fabric that is particularly easy to combine with other garments
  • Corduroy:* for rustic, durable loop scarves that never go out of style; great for a loop scarf with a snap fastener if you use a thinner fabric for the inside
  • Tencel*: smooth, cool, fine – and incredibly comfortable to wear
  • Silk: elegant and very fine, although somewhat more demanding to work with, so not necessarily suitable for beginners; if you would like to use silk, look for a silk blend, such as silk/cotton or silk/viscose
  • Shirt denim*: thin, airy denim fabric that is excellent for casual scarves and perfect for combining
  • Georgette*: a crepe-like fabric with a grainy texture; looks extravagant but is usually very easy to work with
  • Muslin*: for puffy and warming loop scarves that don't need to be ironed ;) Here you can learn everything about sewing muslin.
  • Blouse and dress fabrics*: there is a huge selection of blends here that are easy to care for and don't wrinkle
  • Linen*: cool, light, easy to sew (if you follow a few basic rules when sewing with linen fabrics) and with an elegant wrinkle – an absolute classic for combining and extremely stylish!
  • flowing cotton fabrics*: inexpensive, easy to care for, easy to sew, and available in an incredible variety of colors and patterns
  • Cotton jerseys*: for soft, elastic loop scarves
  • Functional fabrics: for narrow or small loop scarves that you can also use as a headscarf/hat
  • Modal*: soft and comfortably flowing
  • Viscose jersey*
  • Ponte jersey*: for stable loop scarves that keep you nice and warm

 

Which fabrics for the loop scarf for babies and children?

Elastic fabrics that nestle nicely and warm the neck are perfect. Soft jerseys, cotton teddy fabric, elastic French terry fabrics, cotton fleece, knit fabrics, or cozy sweats. With sweat fabrics, you can also use the brushed back side on the outside. Super comfortable and cozy.

Loop scarf for children and babies

For my reversible loop scarf, I used soft quilted fabric for the inside and a cotton jersey for the outside.

I don't like using fleece or Minky for children's loop scarves as much because they are made entirely of synthetic materials. They don't absorb moisture as well. Especially when children are playing and running around, they can easily start to sweat. In that case, the loop scarf should be somewhat more absorbent. :)

 

What sewing machine do I need to sew a loop scarf?

You can sew your loop scarves entirely with a sewing machine. Only straight seams are needed, so you can sew perfect infinity scarves with a very simple household sewing machine.

I like to sew loop scarves with my Janome or my Juki. Sometimes, especially with elastic materials, I also close long seams with the overlocker.

 

 

YouTube Video sewing a loop scarf for children and babies

 

Conclusion

Wow, sewing the beautiful loop scarf variants really made me want to do more! Definitely look around in your fabric shelf; you're sure to find one or two pieces of fabric that wish to be a casual loop scarf. ;)

Aren't you surprised at what simple, beginner-friendly projects loop scarves are? And not only that: they are also the perfect gift for men, women, babies, and children. So also great as a last-minute gift, for the school cone, or as a party favor for a children's birthday (where you can finally use up your jersey scraps!) ;)

Especially with an overlocker, loop scarves are sewn quickly and easily. Of course, regular sewing machines are also easily up to this task.

So: whatever you sew with – just try your hand at a loop scarf. If you don't want to buy new fabric right away, you can also sew a patchwork loop: for example, from discarded blouses and dresses. Such an upcycling project is great if you are into sustainable sewing.

I hope you enjoyed my loop scarf tutorials as much as I did. Feel free to let me know how you liked this blog post. I look forward to your comment! :)

Happy simple sewing

yours Sabine

Sewing a loop scarf

Frequently Asked Questions

How much fabric do I need to sew a loop scarf?

For a loop scarf for adults, you need approx. 70 x 140 cm of fabric and a sewing machine or overlocker. And off you go. For a loop scarf for babies and children, you only need 20 cm of fabric. As a rule of thumb for children's loop scarves: head circumference plus 3 cm.

What accessories do I need to sew a loop scarf?

Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat are practical. With these accessories, you can cut the fabric very accurately and easily get straight edges.

 

 

 

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Instruction 1 / 2

Sew an infinity scarf for adults

Here are four stylish infinity scarf versions for you to choose your future favourite from.

We start with a single-layer infinity scarf made of woven fabric. What's special about this scarf is the lovely side seam. Especially with decorative garments like infinity scarves, it's important that the seams also look good from the wrong side of the fabric.

That's why my single-layer woven infinity scarf is sewn with a modified bojagi seam. With this brilliant sewing technique you only have neat seams on both sides. The bojagi method originally comes from Korea, where it is sewn exclusively by hand. Personally I'm far too impatient for that. So in this tutorial I'll show you a machine-sewn variation of bojagi.

  1. Step

    Sew a single-layer loop scarf from woven fabric

    Great for summer or the in-between seasons when you don't need it quite so warm. The lightweight loop scarf is hemmed with the rolled hem foot, which is quick and looks lovely and neat. Feel free to read my big blog post on presser feet, if you'd like to know more. Tutorials: Sewing a rolled hem with the sewing machine / Sewing a rolled hem with the overlock

    What you need for sewing: 1 fabric piece 50 - 60 cm high and 140-150 cm wide. You also need the rolled hem foot.

    I chose a soft and very comfortable woven viscose from Mind the Maker, because the fabric drapes beautifully around the neck and doesn't crease easily.

    These beautiful flowing fabrics, which I also love turning into tunics and blouses, are available in Simone's shop on Etsy, which I've already recommended several times here on the blog. Simone's Näh-Cafè am Wasserturm is a true sewing mecca if you love high-quality fabrics. Definitely take a look!

    How to sew the single-layer loop scarf from woven fabric

    First, we close the side seam. Here's how:

    Place the short edges wrong sides together (or right sides together, both are fine) so that the edges are offset by 1 cm.

    Pin the edges together with the 1 cm offset.

    Sew the inner edge in place 0.7 cm from the edge.

    This is how it should look now:

    Fold the top edge over the seam.

    Then fold the whole seam to the inside once more so that the raw edge lies inside the fold.

    Unfold the loop so that you don't pin through the main fabric lying underneath the seam.

    Then pin the seam together along its entire length as shown above.

    Sew the front fabric edge in place with a straight stitch, keeping an even distance from the first seam.

    This is how it should look now:

    For the hem you now need the rolled hem foot.

    If you've never sewn a rolled hem before, feel free to first read my blog post on Sewing a rolled hem with the sewing machine. In it, I explain every step in detail.

    Both open edges are hemmed in the same way.

    Fold the fabric edge narrowly twice towards the wrong side of the fabric.

    Secure the folded start of the hem with a few straight stitches.

    Then feed the hem into the rolled hem foot. Make sure the fabric edge really sits in the metal scroll and hold the fabric slightly taut towards the top left while you sew.

    If your fabric frays and loose threads are still visible in the hem, you can trim them off with embroidery scissors after sewing.

    When you reach the side seam, the rolled hem foot won't manage it. (Tutorials: Sewing a rolled hem with the sewing machine / Sewing a rolled hem with the overlock) Leave the needle in the down position, pull the fabric out of the presser foot, fold it narrowly to the inside and stitch it in place. Use the rolled hem foot like a completely normal presser foot for this. You can use this technique whenever your rolled hem foot runs into seams or thick spots.

    This is how it should look afterwards:

    Stylish, isn't it?

    To go with my Tunika Charlie I made myself a second loop scarf from viscose fabric straight away:

    Sew a single-layer loop scarf from woven fabric
  2. Step

    Sew a tube scarf from jersey

    Maybe you fancy sewing a loop scarf from one fabric, i.e. from a single piece of fabric? It's done in no time! I used jersey here, but you can use any fabric you like for this method.

    What you need for sewing: 1 fabric piece 60 - 70 cm high and 140 - 150 cm wide. Also a needle and thread to close the turning gap.

    I show you the exact process in the video, so here's the short version.

    Here's how:

    • Pin the long edges right sides together and sew them with a 1 cm seam allowance.
    • Reach into the tube you've created and grab the end of the seam
    • Pull the end of the seam into the tube until it lies right sides together on top of the start of the seam
    • Pin the beginning and end of the scarf right sides together with the edges aligned and leave a turning gap of 6 - 7 cm
    • Sew the beginning and end together and turn the scarf right side out through the turning gap
    • Shape the seams well and fold the seam allowances 1 cm to the inside
    • Close the turning gap with a ladder stitch or with a straight stitch on your sewing machine
    • I also show you again in detail how to sew a ladder stitch in the corresponding blog post

    I also show you a picture tutorial for this sewing technique in the blog post Sewing a loop scarf.

    Sew a tube scarf from jersey
  3. Step

    Sew a button-up loop scarf

    No, don't worry, for this loop scarf you don't have to sew a buttonhole. Although that really isn't difficult. If you like, you can attach a smart button with a buttonhole instead of the snap I use.

    This loop scarf sits especially nicely around the neck and has an unusual shape. Thanks to the closure, it also fits well into the collars of jackets and coats.

    What you need for sewing:

    • 2 fabric pieces of 45 - 50 x 140 - 150 cm each
    • 1 snap set
    • Snap pliers
    • Two 3x3 cm pieces of Stylefix-Filz (brilliant for snaps, eyelets etc. because it stops them from tearing out: simply stick it onto the wrong side of the fabric)

    Here's how:

    • Stick the two Stylefix-Filz pieces 1 cm from the edge onto the two corners of one long side
    • Pin the two fabric pieces right sides together with the edges aligned
    • Sew both pieces together all the way around, but leave a turning gap of approx. 10 cm
    • Trim the seam allowance in the corners to just short of the seam so the corners can be shaped more nicely
    • Turn the scarf right side out through the turning gap
    • Fold the seam allowances of the turning gap 1 cm to the inside
    • Edgestitch all the way around the scarf with a longer straight stitch, e.g. 3.5 mm, closing the turning gap as you go
    • Attach the top and bottom parts of the snap to the corners you reinforced with Stylefix
    • Done! :)
    Sew a button-up loop scarf
  4. Step

    Sew a patchwork loop scarf from fabric scraps

    Here we can really let loose with the newly learned bojagi technique.

    This wonderful loop scarf (which men like too, by the way!) is sewn entirely from fabric scraps that go well together. Simply combine your favourite pieces. You don't need to worry about which seams end up on the top or the bottom, because both sides will be visible on the finished loop scarf.

    Here I show you the basic technique. With it, you can sew the resulting fabric pieces together any way you like, making them bigger, wider or longer. Just as you fancy.

    My loop scarf has a base area of 50 x 170 cm. So it's long enough to wear casually wrapped twice.

    What you need for sewing: fabric scraps, iron, ironing board (feel free to check out my post on 10 handy pressing tools sometime!)

    Here's how

    Cut 2 fabric pieces in any size. The larger one should be 1 centimetre wider.

    Pin the fabric pieces right sides together. The edge of the smaller piece should be 1 centimetre in from the edge of the larger one.

    Sew the fabric pieces together with a seam allowance of 0.5 - 0.7 cm.

    This is how it should look now:

    Press the seam and then fold the long seam allowance over the short one.

    Fold the seam allowance towards the larger fabric piece and pin it in place.

    Edgestitch the seam allowance in place with a straight stitch.

    This is how it should look now:

    This is how it looks from the other side:

    Sew the next piece in the same way and then join the two pieces together.

    To join two pieces that have already been sewn together, arrange the seams slightly offset.

    The sewing technique stays the same:

    Then straighten the edges so you can add more fabric pieces.

    The ends are joined using the same sewing technique.

    Hem the finished loop scarf by folding the open edges over 1 x 1 centimetre and stitching them in place.

    Done! :)

    Your summer loop scarf gets a casual crinkle look if you twist it up tightly after washing and let it dry like that.

    Sew a patchwork loop scarf from fabric scraps

Instruction 2 / 2

Sew an infinity scarf for babies and kids

Do you still have loads of jersey or other soft fabric scraps left over from your handmade kids' clothes? Perfect! Then why not sew a warm infinity scarf for kids and babies!

An easy, cosy neck warmer, as the kids' infinity scarf is sometimes called, is just the thing for cold days. However, I recommend sewing the kids' scarf in single length only. To avoid injuries, the scarf isn't wrapped twice around the neck but simply pulled over the head. The great thing is that even the littlest ones can help when getting dressed!

What measurements for a kids' and baby infinity scarf?

The measurements of the kids' infinity scarf are really easy to work out. As a rule of thumb use: head circumference + 3 cm. The height of the fabric piece should be about 20 cm. See what your child feels most comfortable with.

What you need for sewing: 2 fabric pieces, each 20 x 53 cm (see rule of thumb above), overlock or sewing machine

  1. Step

    Here's how:

    Pin the two fabric pieces right sides together along the long sides.

  2. Step

    Close the long edges with the overlock or with a stretch stitch on your sewing machine.

  3. Step

    Reach into the tube you've created and grab one of the seam starts. Pull it through the inside of the tube to the start of the seam.

    Pin both seams right sides together.

    Pin the second seam together in the same way.

    Now pin the inner fabric and outer fabric right sides together with the edges aligned. Mark a turning gap of approx. 5 - 6 cm, ideally on the fabric side that will be worn on the inside. If you want to sew a reversible scarf, you can also close the turning gap with a ladder stitch. Then it will be invisible.

  4. Step

    This is how it looks from the back now:

  5. Step

    Remove the extension table from your sewing machine and pull the scarf over the free arm. Sew the edges together all the way around with a stretch stitch and 1 cm seam allowance, leaving the turning gap open.

  6. Step

    Turn the loop scarf right side out through the turning gap and shape the seams.

  7. Step

    Fold the seam allowances of the turning gap 1 cm to the inside and pin them in place.

  8. Step

    Close the turning gap with a ladder stitch or by edgestitching it on the sewing machine.

  9. Step

    And your cosy loop scarf for babies and kids is done!

  10. Step

  11. Step

    You'd like to sew a neck gaiter like this for adults? Great! The rule of thumb works for this sewing project too: head circumference + 3 cm. You can measure the height of the neck gaiter, e.g. the distance between collarbone and chin + 2 cm seam allowance. If you want the neck gaiter to bunch up a little (which looks really nice), you can cut it correspondingly taller. There are no limits to your imagination here. :)

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.